Tecan Infinite® 200 PRO Multimode Microplate Reader

Overview

The Tecan Infinite® 200 PRO is a modular, high-performance multimode microplate reader engineered for precision, reproducibility, and long-term adaptability in academic, pharmaceutical, and clinical research laboratories. Built upon Tecan’s proven Quad4 Monochromators™ optical architecture (in the M200 PRO variant) or intelligent filter-based optics (in the F200 PRO variant), it delivers full-spectrum flexibility across ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths (230–1000 nm). Its core measurement principles include photometric absorbance (based on Beer-Lambert law), fluorescence intensity (excitation/emission scanning), time-resolved fluorescence (using lanthanide chelates), fluorescence polarization (for molecular binding kinetics), and bioluminescent/chemiluminescent photon counting. The system integrates hardware-level Z-axis auto-focusing to ensure optimal signal capture across heterogeneous sample heights—critical for adherent cell assays, spheroids, and low-volume formats. Unlike legacy readers requiring manual optical reconfiguration, the Infinite® 200 PRO enables seamless mode switching—including top/bottom reading, kinetic profiling, and spectral scanning—via software-controlled actuation, eliminating mechanical intervention and reducing inter-operator variability.

Key Features

• Modular detection architecture supporting up to eight validated assay modes within a single platform
• Dual optical paths: Quad4 Monochromators™ (M200 PRO) for continuous wavelength selection; smart filter cartridges with embedded RFID tags (F200 PRO) for traceable, wear-monitored filter use
• Z-axis auto-focusing with real-time height calibration for consistent focal plane alignment across 6–384-well plates and cuvettes
• Gas Control Module (GCM) — an optional, patent-pending environmental chamber regulating O₂ (0.1–21%) and CO₂ (0–20%) concentrations to maintain physiological conditions during extended live-cell assays
• Dedicated detectors per modality: low-noise PMT for fluorescence/luminescence; high-stability photodiode for absorbance; optimized gain settings prevent saturation in high-dynamic-range applications
• MultiCheck™ onboard QC suite enabling daily performance verification per CLSI EP12-A2 guidelines, including linearity, precision, and wavelength accuracy checks

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Infinite® 200 PRO accommodates standard ANSI/SLAS-compliant microplates (6–384-well), skirted/unskirted PCR plates, and 1-cm pathlength cuvettes. Its bottom-reading capability supports transparent-bottom cell culture plates and glass-bottom dishes, while the GCM option extends compatibility to oxygen-sensitive primary neurons, stem cell colonies, and facultative anaerobes under controlled hypoxia. From a regulatory standpoint, the instrument’s firmware and i-control™ software are architected to meet key quality system requirements: electronic signatures, role-based access control, immutable audit trails (aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11), and automated metadata logging (timestamp, operator ID, plate map, calibration status). It supports IQ/OQ/PQ documentation templates compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 and EU Annex 11 for analytical instrument qualification.

Software & Data Management

i-control™ software provides a unified interface for protocol design, real-time monitoring, and export-ready analysis. Preconfigured assay templates cover ELISA, BCA/Lowry protein quantification, dsDNA/RNA quantitation (A260/A280), calcium flux (Fluo-4/Fura-2), caspase activity, and TR-FRET-based kinase profiling. Raw data are stored in vendor-neutral .xlsx and .csv formats; advanced analysis modules include four-parameter logistic (4PL) curve fitting, Z’-factor calculation, and well-level statistical outlier detection. For enterprise integration, the system supports LIMS connectivity via ASTM E1384-compliant HL7 messaging and OPC UA server interfaces. All software updates undergo formal change control per ICH Q9 principles, with version history and impact assessments archived for GxP audits.

Applications

This platform serves as a central analytical node across diverse life science workflows: nucleic acid and protein quantification in QC labs; high-content functional screening of ion channels (e.g., FLIPR assays); reporter gene expression kinetics (luciferase, GFP); cytotoxicity profiling (ATP-based viability, LDH release); immunoassay development (ELISA, AlphaLISA®); and mechanistic pharmacology studies involving TR-FRET biosensors for GPCR dimerization or kinase-substrate interactions. In cell biology, the combination of GCM and Z-focus enables longitudinal metabolic monitoring (e.g., Seahorse-style OCR/ECAR surrogates via fluorescent probes) without plate transfer. Its sensitivity (6 decades in absorbance) make it suitable for both discovery-stage screening and regulated bioanalytical method transfer.

FAQ

Does the Infinite® 200 PRO support kinetic measurements with temperature control?
Yes—integrated Peltier-based incubation maintains temperatures from ambient +4°C to 45°C with ±0.5°C uniformity across the plate deck.
Can the GCM module be retrofitted to existing Infinite® 200 systems?
No—GCM requires dedicated chamber sealing, gas inlet/outlet manifolds, and firmware-level sensor integration; it is only available on new Infinite® 200 PRO configurations.
Is multi-user audit trail functionality enabled by default?
Yes—i-control™ enforces mandatory user login, logs all parameter changes and run executions, and generates tamper-evident PDF reports compliant with 21 CFR Part 11 Subpart C.
What validation documentation is provided with the instrument?
Tecan supplies Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) reports, Installation Qualification (IQ) checklists, and Operational Qualification (OQ) protocols aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 Annex A.3 and USP .
How does the MultiCheck™ QC suite verify detector linearity?
It uses NIST-traceable neutral density filters and calibrated fluorescent standards to assess signal response across five orders of magnitude, generating a linearity report with R² ≥ 0.9998.